Surgical instrument with lockout mechanism

ABSTRACT

Surgical clamping and cutting instruments are disclosed. In one aspect, a surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft with an end effector having first and second jaws, a release member movably coupled to the end effector and a drive member configured to translate relative to the end effector. The instrument further includes a locking member movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distal translation of the drive member. The locking member moves into the second position after the drive member has been driven distally. This inhibits or prevents hazardous actuation of a knife or drive beam when, for example, there is a spent or previously fired cartridge in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional ApplicationNo. 17,104,223, which is a Continuation of U.S. NonprovisionalApplication No. 16/205,128, filed Nov. 29, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,863,988), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/592,330, filed on Nov. 29, 2017, the entire contents of each areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present description relates to surgical clamping and cuttinginstruments having a locking mechanism to prevent firing of theinstruments.

2. Background Oƒ the Related Art

Surgical clamping and cutting instruments, such as, for example,surgical stapling instruments, may include an end effector havingopposing jaws that clamp tissue and a knife that cuts the clampedtissue. It is often advantageous for an end effector of a surgicalstapling instrument to be reusable. To that end, staple cartridges canbe fitted into one jaw of the end effector prior to each use of thesurgical stapling instrument.

It is desirable to prevent firing of a surgical stapling instrumentwhile a spent cartridge remains in place on the jaw. Thus, a need existsfor effective mechanisms to prevent firing of a surgical staplinginstrument while a spent staple cartridge is in place in the endeffector of the surgical stapling instrument.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the claimed subjectmatter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of theclaimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview of theclaimed subject matter. It is intended to neither identify key orcritical elements of the claimed subject matter nor delineate the scopeof the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present someconcepts of the claimed subject matter in a simplified form as a preludeto the more detailed description that is presented later.

The present description relates to improved surgical staplinginstruments having a locking mechanism. Surgical stapling instrumentsdescribed herein employ a proximal to distal knife movement, therebyorienting the knife to greatly reduce the likelihood of unintentionallycutting tissue while removing the surgical instrument from the surgicalsite. The surgical stapling instrument has a locking mechanism toprevent hazardous actuation of a knife or drive beam when there is aspent or previously fired cartridge in place.

In one aspect, a drive assembly for use with a surgical staplinginstrument is provided, which drive assembly includes a drive memberconfigured to releasably engage and translate at least one of a knife ora shuttle of a stapling instrument in a distal direction through astaple firing stroke. A locking member is mounted to the drive memberand movable from a first position permitting distal translation of thedrive member through the staple firing stroke, to a second positioninhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the staplefiring stroke. A spring is configured to bias the locking member towardthe second position.

In another aspect, a surgical stapling instrument is provided, whichsurgical stapling instrument includes an anvil jaw assembly, and astaple jaw assembly, including a knife. A drive member is configured toreleasably engage the knife, the knife disengaging from the drive memberupon subsequent distal movement of the drive member. The surgicalstapling instrument further includes a locking member supported by thedrive member and being pivotable from a first position permitting distaltranslation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distaltranslation of the drive member. The knife, when proximally positioned,releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member inthe first position, the knife disengaging from the locking member afterthe drive member has been driven distally. A slot is configured toengage the locking member when the locking member is in the secondposition.

In another aspect, a surgical stapling instrument is provided, whichsurgical stapling instrument includes an anvil jaw assembly, and astaple jaw assembly, including a knife. A drive member is configured toreleasably engage a shuttle, the shuttle disengaging from the drivemember upon subsequent distal movement of the drive member. The surgicalstapling instrument further includes a locking member supported by thedrive member and being pivotable from a first position permitting distaltranslation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distaltranslation of the drive member. The shuttle, when proximallypositioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain thelocking member in the first position, the shuttle disengaging from thelocking member after the drive member has been driven distally. A slotis configured to engage the locking member when the locking member is inthe second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the devicesdescribed herein will become more apparent in light of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an illustrative surgical staplinginstrument;

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of an illustrative end effector of asurgical stapling instrument;

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a drive assembly;

FIG. 3 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of a surgical staplinginstrument including the drive assembly of FIG. 2 , with the jaws of theend effector in the open position and a fresh reload positioned in thestaple jaw assembly;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the anvil jaw assembly;

FIG. 4 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of the surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 3 with the jaw assemblies of the end effector in theclosed position and the drive assembly in the home position;

FIG. 5 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of the surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 3 with the jaw assemblies of the end effector in theclosed position and the drive assembly partially advanced distally;

FIG. 6 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of a surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 3 with the jaws of the end effector in the closedposition and the drive assembly moved proximally after completion of afiring stroke and ejection of staples from the staple cartridge;

FIG. 7 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of a surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 3 with the jaws of the end effector in the closedposition with a spent cartridge in place in the lower jaw assembly,thereby activating the lockout mechanism;

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of a drive assembly in accordance withanother embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of a surgical staplinginstrument including the drive assembly of FIG. 8 , with the jaws of theend effector in the open position and a fresh reload positioned in thestaple jaw assembly;

FIG. 10 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of the surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 9 with the jaw assemblies of the end effector in theclosed position and the drive assembly in the home position;

FIG. 11 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of the surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 9 with the jaw assemblies of the end effector in theclosed position and the drive assembly partially advanced distally;

FIGS. 12 - 14 are a partial side, cross-sectional views of a surgicalstapling instrument of FIG. 9 with the jaws of the end effector in theclosed position showing sequential stages of proximal movement of thedrive assembly after completion of a firing stroke and ejection ofstaples from the staple cartridge;

FIG. 15 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of a surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 9 with the jaws of the end effector in the closedposition with a spent cartridge in place in the lower jaw assembly,thereby activating the lockout mechanism;

FIG. 16 depicts a side view of a drive assembly in accordance withanother embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of a surgical staplinginstrument including the drive assembly of FIG. 16 with the jawassemblies of the end effector in the closed position and the driveassembly in the home position;

FIG. 18 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of a surgical staplinginstrument including another illustrative embodiment of a driveassembly, with the jaws of the end effector in the open position and afresh reload positioned in the staple jaw assembly; and

FIG. 19 is a partial side, cross-sectional view of the surgical staplinginstrument of FIG. 18 with the jaw assemblies of the end effector in theclosed position and the drive assembly in the home position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present surgical stapling instruments aredescribed hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings;however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely exemplary of the description and may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present description in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure. Well-known functions or constructionsare not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present descriptionin unnecessary detail.

The present description relates to drive assemblies including a drivemember, a locking member mounted to the drive member, and a spring. Thedrive member is configured to releasably engage at least one of a knifeor a shuttle of a surgical stapling instrument and to translate theknife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a staple firingstroke. Contact between the drive member and the knife and/or shuttle isreleasable in that once the knife and/or shuttle are translated by thedrive member in the distal direction through a staple firing stroke, theknife and/or shuttle disengages from the drive member, remains at adistal portion of the stapling instrument, and is not translated in aproximal direction by the drive member. The locking member is movablefrom a first position permitting distal translation of the drive memberthrough the staple-firing stroke, and a second position inhibitingdistal translation of the drive member through the staple firing stroke.The spring is configured to bias the locking member toward the secondposition.

While the following description is presented with respect to a linearsurgical stapler where staples are sequentially fired, it should beunderstood that the present drive assemblies may be readily adapted foruse in any type of surgical clamping and cutting instruments, whether ornot the surgical clamping and cutting instrument applies a fastener. Thesurgical clamping and cutting instrument may be a minimally invasive(e.g., laparoscopic) instrument or an instrument used for open surgery.

Additionally, the present drive assemblies may be readily adapted foruse in surgical instruments that are activated using any techniquewithin the purview of those skilled in the art, such as, for example,manually activated surgical instruments, powered surgical instruments(e.g., electro-mechanically powered instruments), robotic surgicalinstruments, and the like.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an illustrative surgical staplinginstrument 10 capable of utilizing a drive assembly and lockingmechanism. Surgical stapling instrument 10 includes a handle assembly12, and an end effector 100 including an anvil jaw assembly 102 and astaple jaw assembly 104 mounted on an elongated shaft 160 of thesurgical stapling instrument 10.

FIG. 1B shows anvil jaw assembly 102, including an anvil 106 havingstaple forming pockets 103 (see FIG. 3A) supported thereon, and staplejaw assembly 104. Staple jaw assembly 104 and anvil jaw assembly 102 areconfigured to move from an open position to a closed position. In theopen position, a fresh stapling cartridge can be loaded into jawassembly 104, a spent staple cartridge removed from jaw assembly 104,and tissue may be positioned between the jaw assemblies 102, 104. In theclosed position, jaw assemblies 102, 104 cooperate to close upon andclamp tissue such that cartridge 122 and anvil 106 are in closecooperative alignment. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,staple jaw assembly 104 is stationary and anvil jaw assembly 102 pivotsto the open position. In other embodiments illustrated herein, the jawassembly containing the anvil is stationary and the jaw assemblycontaining the staple cartridge pivots to the open position. As thoseskilled in the art reading this description will appreciate, in yetother embodiments both the anvil jaw assembly and the staple jawassembly may pivot.

With continued reference to FIG. 1B, staple jaw assembly 104 includes astaple cartridge 122 supported in a channel 134 on jaw 123. Cartridge122 includes a plurality of staples 124 that are supported oncorresponding staple drivers 126 provided within respective stapleapertures 128 formed in cartridge 122. Cartridge 122 also includes ashuttle 130 having an inclined distal portion 131 that, upon distalmovement, sequentially acts on staple drivers 126, camming them upwardlythereby moving staples 124 into deforming contact with anvil 106.Cartridge 122 also includes a knife 150 configured to translate distallythrough a channel 127 in cartridge 122 and sever clamped, stapledtissue.

FIG. 1B further shows a drive assembly 101 that is movably supported onthe surgical stapling instrument such that it may pass distally throughcartridge 122 and staple jaw assembly 104 when the surgical staplinginstrument is fired (e.g., actuated).

For a more detailed description of illustrative end effectors, referencemay be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,669,073 and 8,800,841, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. It shouldof course, be understood that end effector shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B ismerely illustrative, and that other end effectors may be employed,including but not limited to the end effectors shown in WO2014/106275,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative drive assembly 101 for a surgical staplinginstrument, including drive member 110, spring 114, and lockout member116.

Drive member 110 may be any structure capable of pushing at least one ofa shuttle or a knife of a surgical stapling instrument with thenecessary force to effectively sever or staple human tissue. Drivemember 110 may be an I-beam, an E-beam, or any other type of drivemember capable of performing similar functions. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 2 , drive member 110 is an I-beam and includes a first flange113 a that travels in a channel 108 (see FIG. 3A) in the anvil jawassembly 102, and a second flange 113 b that travels in a channel 115(see FIG. 5 ) in the staple jaw assembly 104. Spring 114 is mounted tothe drive member 110 by any technique within the purview of thoseskilled in the art. In embodiments, spring 114 is welded to drive member110 on upper face 112 of drive member 110. Spring 114 is configured tobias engagement portion 118 of locking member 116 in the direction ofArrow “B”, urging engagement portion 118 to extend beyond upper face 112of drive member 110 to enable the locking mechanism. Distal movement ofdrive assembly 101 advances shuttle 130 by contact with a lower distalend portion 111 of drive member 110 and advances knife 150 by contactwith upper distal portion 113 of drive member 110.

FIG. 3 shows the proximal end of a fresh reload 122 including shuttle130 and knife 150 loaded into jaw 123 while jaw assemblies 102, 104 arein the open position. In FIG. 3 , drive member 110 is in the proximalhome position of the surgical stapling instrument.

Once the jaw assemblies 102, 104 are approximated to grasp tissue, knife150 engages a footer 119 of locking member 116 overcoming the bias ofspring 114, keeping engagement portion 118 at or below upper face 112 ofdrive member 110, disabling the locking mechanism and permitting lockingmember 116 to bypass slot 170 formed in jaw assembly 102 as the drivemember moves distally, as best seen in FIG. 5 . Locking member 116 isgenerally L-shaped. Slot 170 is located on jaw assembly 102 in aposition proximal of staple forming pockets 107 of anvil 106 (see FIG.3A).

In FIG. 4 , the fresh reload is shown in place. The proximal end 132 ofshuttle 130 is engaging lower distal end portion 111 of drive member 110so that drive member 110 drives shuttle 130 distally upon firing.Similarly, a proximal portion 152 of knife 150 engages an upper distalportion 113 of drive member 110 so that knife 150 may be drivendistally. In FIG. 5 , drive member 110 continues to drive shuttle 130and knife 150 distally. Because knife 150 engages footer 119 of lockingmember 116, locking member 116 is maintained in a first position andunable rotate upwardly to interact with slot 170, permitting continueddistal translation of drive member 110 through a complete firing stroke.

Once drive member 110 translates distally through a complete firingstroke during which stapling and severing of tissue have occurred, drivemember 110 can be retracted, leaving shuttle 130 and knife 150 parked ata position in a distal portion of cartridge 122. In embodiments, shuttle130 may be unable to move proximally towards the home position due tofriction with cartridge 122. In embodiments, knife 150 may be parked ina predetermined position in a distally located garage 165 (not shown),the garage 165 including lateral surfaces that face the cutting tip ofknife 150. As drive member 110 is retracted, despite the biasing forceof spring 114, engagement portion 118 of locking member 116 is unable torotate upward as it is blocked by contact with surface 103 of upper jawassembly 102, as shown in FIG. 6 .

Further retraction of drive member 110 positions locking member 116proximal of slot 170. Because the staple cartridge is spent and there isno knife to restrain movement of locking member 116, any attempt tore-fire the surgical stapling instrument will be prevented by therotation of locking member 116, under the bias of spring 114, aboveupper surface 112 of drive member 110 and into slot 170, as seen in FIG.7 .

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a driver assembly 201 for asurgical stapling instrument, including drive member 210, spring 214,and lockout member 216.

Drive member 210 may be any structure capable of pushing at least one ofa shuttle or a knife of a surgical stapling instrument with thenecessary force to effectively sever and/or staple human tissue. Asshown, drive member 210 is an I-beam and includes a first flange 213 athat travels in a channel 208 (see FIG. 9 ) in the anvil jaw assembly202, and a second flange 213 b that travels in a channel 215 (see FIG. 9) in the staple jaw assembly 204. Spring 214 is welded to upper face 212a drive member 210. Spring 214 is configured to bias engagement portion218 of locking member 216 in the direction of Arrow “B”, urgingengagement portion 218 to rotate below lower face 212 b of drive member210 to enable the locking mechanism. In this embodiment, locking member116 is substantially linear.

In operation, distal movement of drive assembly 201 advances shuttle 230by contact with lower distal end portion 211 of drive member 210 andadvances knife 250 by contact with upper distal portion 213 of drivemember 210.

FIG. 9 shows the proximal end of a fresh reload 222 including shuttle230 and knife 250 loaded into jaw 223 while the jaw assemblies 202, 204are in the open position. In FIG. 9 , drive member 210 is in theproximal home position of the surgical stapling instrument.

Once the upper and lower jaw assemblies are in position to grasp tissue,knife 250 engages locking member 216 overcoming the bias of spring 214,keeping engagement portion 218 aligned with lower face 212 b of drivemember 210, permitting locking member 216 to bypass a pocket 270 formedin a lower surface of channel 208 of jaw assembly 202 as the drivemember moves distally, as best seen in FIG. 10 .

In FIG. 10 , the fresh reload is in place. The proximal end 232 ofshuttle 230 engages a lower-distal portion 211 of drive member 210 sothat drive member 210 drives shuttle 230 distally upon firing.Similarly, a proximal portion 252 of knife 250 engages an upper distalportion 213 of drive member 210 so that knife 250 may be drivendistally. As drive member 210 continues distally, because knife 250engages locking member 216, locking member 216 is maintained in a firstposition and unable rotate downwardly to interact with pocket 270 (seeFIG. 11 ), and the locking mechanism is disengaged, permitting continueddistal translation of drive member 210 through a complete firing stroke.

Once drive member 210 translates distally through a complete firingstroke and severing and stapling of tissue have occurred, drive member210 can be retracted, leaving shuttle 230 and knife 250 at a parkedposition in a distal portion of cartridge 222. As drive member 210 isretracted, despite the biasing force of spring 214, engagement portion218 of locking member 216 is unable to rotate downward as it rides alongthe lower surface of channel 208 of jaw assembly 202 as shown in FIG. 12. Once locking member reaches slot 270, it may rotate downwardly asshown in FIG. 13 , but such rotation will not interfere with proximalmotion of drive member 210.

Once further retraction of drive member 210 positions locking member 216proximal of pocket 270 (see FIG. 14 ), because the staple cartridge isspent and there is no knife to restrain downward movement of lockingmember 216, any attempt to re-fire the surgical stapling instrument willbe prevented by activation of the locking mechanism when locking member216 rotates under the bias of spring 214, downwardly below surface 212 bof drive member 210 and into contact with notch 271 of pocket 270 asseen in FIG. 15 .

FIGS. 16 and 17 depict an alternative embodiment of a drive assembly 301for use with a surgical stapling instrument. In this embodiment, shuttle330 maintains locking member 316 out of engagement with slot 370 instaple jaw assembly 304 (rather than a slot in the anvil jaw assembly),thereby allowing knife 350 to be mounted to, or a sharpened surface of,drive member 310.

Specifically, as seen in FIG. 16 , drive assembly 301 includes drivemember 310, spring 314, and lockout member 316. In this embodiment,spring 314 is configured to bias engagement portion 318 of lockingmember 316 in the direction of Arrow “B”, urging engagement portion 318to rotate below lower face 312 of drive member 310 to enable the lockingmechanism.

In FIG. 17 , with a fresh reload in place, proximal end 332 of shuttle330 engages a lower-distal portion 311 of drive member 310 so that drivemember 310 drives shuttle 330 distally upon firing. Because shuttle 330also engages portion 319 of locking member 216, locking member 316 ismaintained in a first position and unable rotate downwardly to interactwith slot 370, permitting distal translation of drive member 310 througha complete firing stroke. Unlike previously presented illustrativeembodiments where the knife disables the locking mechanism, in thisembodiment shuttle 330 is responsible for disabling the lockingmechanism. Using shuttle 330 to restrain rotation of locking member 316allows for knife 350 to be mounted to or formed directly on drive member310, reducing cartridge cost.

Once drive member 310 translates distally through a complete firingstroke and severing and stapling of tissue have occurred, drive member310 can be retracted, leaving shuttle 330 at a parked position at adistal portion of the cartridge. Further retraction of drive member 310positions locking member 316 proximal of pocket 370. Because the staplecartridge is spent and there is no shuttle to restrain downward movementof locking member 316, any attempt to re-fire the surgical staplinginstrument will be prevented by activation of the locking mechanism whenlocking member 316 rotates under the bias of spring 314, downwardlybelow surface 312 of drive member 310 and into contact with pocket 370in essentially the same manner as described above.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show an alternative embodiment of a surgical staplinginstrument 400. Surgical stapling instrument 400 includes a movableanvil jaw assembly 404 and a stationary staple jaw assembly 402 whichare configured to move between an open position to a closed position. Inthe open position, a fresh staple cartridge 422 can be loaded intostationary staple jaw assembly 402, a spent staple cartridge removedfrom stationary staple jaw assembly 402, and tissue may be positionedbetween the jaw assemblies 402, 404. In the closed position, jawassemblies 402, 404 cooperate to close upon and clamp tissue such thatcartridge 422 and anvil 406 are in close cooperative alignment. Unlikethe previously described embodiments, in surgical stapling instrument400 the jaw containing cartridge 422 is stationary and the jaw assemblycontaining the anvil pivots to the open position.

FIG. 18 shows the proximal end of a fresh reload 422 including shuttle430 loaded into stationary jaw assembly 402 while the jaw assemblies402, 404 are in the open position. Knife 450 may be mounted to drivemember 410, or it may be a sharpened surface of drive member 410, or acomponent of cartridge 422, either independent of, or mounted to shuttle430.

With a fresh reload in place and the jaw assemblies 402, 404 in theclosed position (see FIG. 18 ), proximal end 432 of shuttle 430 engagesupper portion 411 of drive member 410, disabling the locking mechanismso that drive member 410 drives shuttle 430 distally upon firing.Because shuttle 430 also engages locking member 416, locking member 416is maintained in a first position and unable rotate upwardly to interactwith a slot 470 in stationary jaw assembly 402, permitting distaltranslation of drive member 410 through a complete firing stroke.

Once drive member 410 translates distally through a complete firingstroke and severing and stapling of tissue have occurred, drive member410 can be retracted, leaving shuttle 430 at a parked position at adistal portion of the cartridge. Further retraction of drive member 410positions locking member 416 proximal of pocket 470. Because the staplecartridge is spent and there is no shuttle to restrain movement oflocking member 416, any attempt to re-fire the surgical staplinginstrument will be prevented by activation of the locking mechanism whenlocking member 416 rotates under the bias of spring 414, upwardly abovesurface 412 of drive member 410 and into contact with pocket 470 inessentially the same manner as described above.

While several embodiments of the description have been shown in thedrawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, asit is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art willallow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the abovedescription should not be construed as limiting, but merely asexemplifications of presently disclosed embodiments. Thus the scope ofthe embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and theirlegal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methodsspecifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. The featuresillustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment maybe combined with the features of other embodiments. Various alternativesand modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure isintended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features andadvantages of the present disclosure based on the above-describedembodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be limited bywhat has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated bythe appended claims.

1. A surgical instrument comprising: an elongate shaft with an endeffector having first and second jaws; a release member movably coupledto the end effector; a drive member configured to translate relative tothe end effector; a locking member movable from a first positionpermitting distal translation of the drive member, to a second positionpreventing distal translation of the drive member; and wherein thelocking member moves into the second position after the drive member hasbeen driven distally.
 2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein therelease member, when proximally positioned, is configured to releasablyengage the locking member to maintain the locking member in the firstposition.
 3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising aslot configured to engage the locking member when the locking member isin the second position;.
 4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, whereinthe release member is configured to disengage from the locking memberwhen the drive member has been driven distally.
 5. The surgicalinstrument of claim 3, wherein the first jaw comprises an anvil jawassembly and the second jaw comprises a staple jaw assembly including aremovable staple cartridge.
 6. The surgical instrument of claim 5,further comprising a knife housed within the removable staple cartridge,wherein the knife comprises the release member.
 7. The surgicalinstrument of claim 5, further includes a shuttle having a distalinclined portion housed within the removable staple cartridge, whereinthe shuttle comprises the release member.
 8. The surgical instrument ofclaim 5, wherein the slot resides in the anvil jaw assembly.
 9. Thesurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the drive member furtherincludes a first flange configured to translate through a channel in thefirst jaw, and a second flange configured to translate through a channelin the second jaw.
 10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein thelocking member is generally L-shaped.
 11. The surgical instrument ofclaim 1, wherein the locking member is substantially linear.
 12. Thesurgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a spring configuredto bias the locking member towards the second position.
 13. The surgicalinstrument of claim 1, further comprising an actuator in contact withthe drive member and configured to translate the drive member distallythrough the end effector, wherein the actuator includes a control deviceof a robotic surgical system.
 14. A surgical instrument comprising: anelongate shaft with an end effector having first and second jaws; arelease member movably coupled to the end effector; a drive memberconfigured to translate relative to the end effector; a locking membermovable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drivemember, to a second position preventing distal translation of the drivemember, wherein the locking member is biased towards the secondposition; and wherein the locking member moves into the second positionafter the drive member has been driven distally.
 15. The surgicalinstrument of claim 14, wherein the release member, when proximallypositioned, is configured to releasably engage the locking member tomaintain the locking member in the first position, and configured todisengage from the locking member after the drive member has been drivendistally.
 16. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising aslot configured to engage the locking member when the locking member isin the second position.
 17. The surgical instrument of claim 14, whereinthe first jaw comprises an anvil jaw assembly and the second jawcomprises a staple jaw assembly including a removable staple cartridgeand further comprising a knife housed within the removable staplecartridge, wherein the knife comprises the release member.
 18. Thesurgical instrument of claim 14, further includes a shuttle having adistal inclined portion housed within the removable staple cartridge,wherein the shuttle comprises the release member.
 19. The surgicalinstrument of claim 14, wherein the locking member is substantiallylinear.
 20. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising anactuator in contact with the drive member and configured to translatethe drive member distally through the end effector, wherein the actuatorincludes a control device of a robotic surgical system.